JP3488486B2 - Food transfer equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mainly relates to an apparatus for transferring food such as shiimai, and more particularly, when a predetermined number of aligned foods are put in a bag by a packaging bucket, sealed and heat-treated, The present invention relates to a food transfer device that loads the food into a packaging bucket.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in the case of producing a vacuum packed shiumai, an operator manually grasps the shiimai discharged in a steamed state and a predetermined number of vacuum shim After being placed on the packaging bucket, the shii-mai on the packaging bucket was pushed into the bag for vacuum packaging by a pusher for vacuum packaging, and then heat sterilized.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional vacuum-packed shimai production facility described above, humans are present at the delivery part of the shimai from the steaming machine to the vacuum packaging machine, and the bag is packed in a bag. There was a problem that the loaded shiimai tended to be uneven, and it was troublesome and the workability was poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable a predetermined number of aligned food products to be smoothly and reliably supplied onto a packaging bucket, thereby saving labor. Another object of the present invention is to provide a food transfer device which can be automated and can easily manufacture food in good condition.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention is to provide a bag with a packaging bucket in which a predetermined number of foods such as shimai having a shape restoring property by heating are aligned. A transfer device for transferring the food into the packaging bucket when the food is charged into the packaging bucket and sealed and heat-treated, and a transfer mechanism for piercing and transferring the aligned food with a rod-shaped member and the transfer. A transfer mechanism that pushes the food transferred by the mechanism into a packaging bucket in a compressed state, the transfer mechanism
Is located in front of and behind the food,
Equipped with a pressing member that pushes in and compresses
It is a food transfer device . Further, claim 2 of the present invention is
The transfer mechanism supports food by sandwiching food from both sides.
It has a guide mechanism to carry. Moreover, the contract of the present invention
In claim 3, the transfer mechanism is movable along a rod-shaped member.
The food that has been
It is provided with a detaching member for detaching. According to claim 4 of the present invention, an inspection mechanism for inspecting the inside of the food is provided between the transfer mechanism and the transfer mechanism.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the shape restoration property is improved by heating.
Wrapped in a state where a certain number of food items such as shimai are
Packed in a bag with a bucket, sealed and heat-treated
A method of manufacturing food, in which aligned food is formed into a rod-shaped member.
The transfer process of more piercing and transfer, and the transfer process
Packed food in a packaging bucket
Push-in transfer process and packaging by the transfer process
A sealer that puts food on a bucket into a bag and seals it
And heat the food sealed in the bag by the sealing process.
A method of manufacturing a packaged food product having a heat treatment process
is there. In addition, claim 6 of the present invention is a transfer process and transfer.
It also has an inspection process to inspect the inside of food between the process and
Of.

[0006]

In the food transfer device according to the first aspect of the present invention, after the food in the aligned state is pierced and transferred by the rod-shaped member of the transfer mechanism, the food is compressed by the transfer mechanism. While being pushed into the packaging bucket, the shape of the food is restored to the original state by the heat treatment performed in the subsequent process, and no trace of the rod-shaped member remains. Also, the claims of the present invention
In 4 , the integrity of the packaged food is confirmed by inspecting the inside of the food by the inspection mechanism provided between the transfer mechanism and the transfer mechanism.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are a plan view and a front view showing the entire structure of the food transfer device of the present invention. The transfer device is arranged such that the shims W arranged in a tray T are intermittently arranged in the horizontal direction. A conveyer 10 that conveys the carrier T, a push-up mechanism 11 that is provided at the carry-out end of the conveyer 10 and that raises the tray T, and a shim W in the tray T on the push-up mechanism 11 is pierced by a rod-shaped member. The transfer mechanism 12 for transferring, the tray unloading mechanism 14 for unloading the empty tray T after the transfer of the shii W, the shii W transferred by the transfer mechanism 12 are placed and continuously in the horizontal direction. Which is provided at the carry-out end of the above-mentioned carrier conveyor 15 and a metal detector 16 which inspects the shii W in the middle of the carrying by the carrier conveyor 15. Tact conveyor 17 which moves manner
The transfer mechanism 18 is mainly configured to push the above-mentioned shimai W in a compressed state into the upper packaging bucket 170.

The transport conveyor 10 is provided with a pair of endless timing belts 100 arranged side by side with a predetermined gap therebetween, and the tray T is stretched between these timing belts 100 to be transported intermittently. It is something. The tray T is rectangular and made of resin having 6 (2 × 3) places for placing the shimai, and each tray has 15 (3 × 5).
It contains an individual Shimai W. Further, the push-up mechanism 11 supports the tray T located at the carry-out end of the transfer conveyor 10 from below the push-up tool 110 and raises it to a predetermined height.

The transfer mechanism 12 has a pair of guide rails 120 spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and two traveling carriages 12 movably arranged on the guide rails 120.
1, 122, the traveling carriage 121, and the fixed-side frame 1
A horizontal cylinder 124 which is provided between the guide rails 120 and 23 and moves the traveling carriage 121 along the guide rails 120.
And an open / close cylinder 125 provided between the traveling carriages 121 and 122 and for opening and closing a space between the traveling carriages 121 and 122, and the traveling carriages 121 and 122.
Lift cylinders 126 provided with the piston rods 126a facing downward, and the traveling carriages 1 described above.
A pair of guide shafts 128 movably supported in the vertical direction by the guide portions 127 attached to the reference numerals 21 and 122.
And these guide shaft 128 and piston rod 126
A support frame 129 attached to the lower end of a, a large number of stainless steel bar-shaped members 130 provided on the lower surface of the support frame 129, fitted to these bar-shaped members 130, and movable along the bar-shaped members 130. And a pair of support rods 132 for supporting the release member 131 and the support rods 1
32 and a disengagement cylinder 134 connected to the 32 via a mounting member 133. Then, the rod-shaped member 1
The reference numerals 30 are arranged so as to pierce each of the three shims W placed on the shimmy mounting portion of the tray T.

The tray carry-out mechanism 14 is a rodless cylinder 140 attached to the stationary frame 123.
And a carry-out tool 141 attached to the movable portion of the rodless cylinder 140. In addition, the conveyor 15 has a large number of guide rollers 150 around which an endless conveyor belt 151 is wound. At the carry-out end of the conveyor 15, rollers are installed to reduce the radius of gyration. Instead, the conveyor belt 151 is guided and supported by a supporting member 152 such as a knife-edge type or a small-diameter roller. further,
The metal detector 16 is installed with the conveyor belt 151 sandwiched from above and below. Furthermore, the packaging buckets 170, which are arranged in large numbers on the tact conveyor 17 at predetermined intervals, have a tongue-shaped bucket body 170a.
And a pair of guide plate portions 170b provided upright on both sides of the bucket body 170a.

The transfer mechanism 18 includes a servo motor 181 installed on a base 180, and the servo motor 1
81 and a pair of pulleys 182a, 182b
A moving mechanism 182 in which a timing belt 182c is wound around, and a movable mechanism 182 connected to the timing belt 182c of the moving mechanism 182 and movably provided along a pair of guide rails 184 laid on the base 180. The movable table 185, the vertical cylinder 186 provided on the movable table 185 with the piston rod 186a facing downward, and the guide portion 187 attached to the movable table 185 so as to be vertically movable. A pair of guide shafts 188, a support 189 attached to the lower ends of the guide shafts 188 and the piston rod 186a, and a pair of support members 189 suspended from front and rear ends of the support 189, respectively. A support shaft 190, a pair of support plates 191 slidably supported by these support shafts 190, As in a pair of mounting plates 192 which is slidably supported on the support shafts 190, a connecting rod 193 that connects between the respective support plates 191 and the mounting plate 192 between each said respective support plate 19
1, push-out members 194 respectively attached to the mounting plates 192, pressing members 195 respectively attached to the mounting plates 192, a compression cylinder 196 provided between the base 180 and the support plate 191 on the front side, and a rear side. Side interlocking mechanism 197 provided between the mounting plate 192 and the support plate 191, and each of the plates 191,
Below 192, a delivery plate 198 is provided rotatably in the vertical direction at the carry-out end of the transfer conveyor 15 and the leading edge of which reaches the tact conveyor 17, and the delivery plate 198 and the base 180. The rotary cylinder 199 is provided between the rotary cylinder 199 and the transfer plate 198 to rotate, and the guide mechanism 200 is provided at the carry-out end of the conveyor 15. Then, the delivery board 198
The guide plate portions 198a provided on both sides of the guide plate portion 198a are formed so as to become narrower toward the tip.

The interlocking mechanism 197 has a base 180.
The central portion of the link member 197a is rotatably provided in
The link member 1 is provided on each end of the link member 197a.
97b are rotatably connected, and the support plate 191 and the mounting plate 1 are connected to the link members 197b.
92 is rotatably connected, and when the front side support plate 191 is moved forward (backward) along the support shaft 190 by the compression cylinder 196, the rear side support plate 191 is moved through the connecting rod 193. The support plate 191 on the front side moves forward (reverse), at that time, the mounting plate 192 on the rear side moves backward (forward) by the interlocking mechanism 197, and the mounting plate 192 on the front side moves via the connecting rod 193. It moves backward (forward) together with the mounting plate 192 on the rear side. As a result, the pushing member 19 attached to each of the support plates 191 is operated by operating the compression cylinder 196.
4 and the holding member 195 attached to each of the attachment plates 192 are configured to be narrowed or widened.

Furthermore, the guide mechanism 200 sandwiches and guides the shii W, which is located at the carry-out end of the conveyor belt 151 of the conveyor 15, from both sides thereof, and is provided so as to approach and separate from each other. Each of the guide plates 200a, 200b and a connecting member 20 for connecting the guide plates 200a, 200b to each other.
0c and a pair of guide cylinders 200d which are provided on both sides of each of the guide plates 200a and 200b and which bring the guide plates 200a and 200b toward and away from each other.

A description will be given of the case where the Shiumai W is pushed into the packaging bucket 170 on the tact conveyor 17 attached to the vacuum packaging machine and vacuum-packed by using the food transfer device configured as described above. The shii-mai W discharged from the steamer is carried by the carrying conveyor 10 while being placed on the shi-mai placing part of the tray T for each. Then, the tray T that has reached the carry-out end of the transfer conveyor 10 is pushed up by the push-up tool 110 of the push-up mechanism 11.
Is raised to be supported by the push-up tool 110 and raised to a predetermined height. Next, after positioning the rod-shaped member 130 planted on the lower surface of the support frame 129 above the tray T, the piston rod 126a of the elevating cylinder 126 is moved forward to move the guide portion 1
With the guide shaft 128 being supported and guided by 27,
The support frame 129 is lowered. As a result, the rod-shaped member 130 pierces the shii-mai W placed on each shii-mai mounting portion of the tray T.

Subsequently, the elevating cylinder 126 and the horizontal cylinder 124 are operated to elevate and lower the support frames 129 and the rod-shaped member 130, and the traveling carriages 121, 1 are also moved.
By moving 22 in the horizontal direction, the shii-mai W pierced by each of the rod-shaped members 130 is transferred together with the movement of the support frame 129 and the rod-shaped member 130, while the support frames 129 are opened and closed by the opening / closing cylinder 125 during the transfer. By opening the space, the space between the shii Ws pierced by the group of bar-shaped members 130 below the pair of support frames 129 is set to a predetermined interval (tact conveyor 17
The space between the upper packaging buckets 170). For the empty tray T supported on the lifting tool 110 of the lifting mechanism 11, the movable part of the rodless cylinder 140 of the tray unloading mechanism 14 is moved so that the empty tray 141 is moved by the unloading tool 141. T
Is moved in the horizontal direction and is carried out from above the lifting tool 110.

On the other hand, when the shii-mai W stabbed by the rod-shaped member 130 reaches on the conveyor belt 151 of the conveyor 15, the elevating cylinder 126 lowers the support frame 129 and then the elevating cylinder 1
26 to operate the support frame 129 and the rod-shaped member 1
30 together with these supporting frames 129
And the disengagement cylinder 13 as the rod-shaped member 130 rises.
4 is operated to lower the detachment member 131 along the rod-shaped member 130, so that the rod-shaped member 130 and the support frame 129 are elevated while the detachment member 131 is stopped at a constant height. To work. As a result, the bar-shaped member 130 sticking into the above-mentioned shimai W
Is pulled out upward, so that the shii W, whose upper surface is pressed by the separating member 131, is smoothly placed in the aligned state on the transport belt 151 during continuous transport.

Next, the shiimai W placed on the conveyor belt 151, which is continuously conveyed, is conveyed as the conveyor belt 151 moves, while the rod-shaped member 130 and the support frame 129 return to their original positions. And waits for the transfer of the shimai W placed on the shimai mounting portion of the next tray T on the transport conveyor 10. And
Shimai W being transported on the transport conveyor 15
By being inspected by the metal detector 16, the soundness of the shii-mai W is easily confirmed, and the metal such as the rod-shaped member 130 is surely prevented from being mixed into the shi-mai W to be vacuum-packaged.

Then, when the shim W reaches the carry-out end of the conveyer 15, the piston rod 186a of the upper and lower cylinders 186 is moved forward to guide the guide portion 1.
In a state where the guide shaft 188 is supported and guided by the 87, the support 189 is lowered together with the support shaft 190, the support plate 191, and the attachment plate 192, and the pressing member 195 and the pushing member 194 on the rear side in the state where they are opened are described above. Position it before and after Shimai W. At about the same time,
The guide cylinder 200d of the guide mechanism 200 is operated to bring the guide plates 200a and 200b closer to each other so that the guide plates 200a and 200b are brought into contact with both sides of the shii W.

Next, the pushing member 194 is moved forward by the compression cylinder 196 and the pushing member 195 is moved backward, so that the above-mentioned shiima W is sandwiched between the pushing member 194 on the rear side and the pushing member 195. in this case,
The total length of the five shiimai W arranged side by side in the front-rear direction is compressed by the radius of one shimai W to clamp the pressure.
Since 00a and 200b support both sides of the shiimai W, the shiimai W does not protrude to the side,
Therefore, the form of the above-mentioned shii-mai W does not collapse. In this state, the servo motor 181 and the moving mechanism 18
2 by moving the moving table 185 forward along the guide rail 184, the pushing member 194 on the rear side is moved.
The shii-mai W sandwiched between the pressing member 195 and the pressing member 195 is transferred from the transfer conveyor 15 onto the delivery plate 198.

At this time, at the carrying-out end of the carrying conveyor 15, since the carrying belt 151 is supported by the supporting member 152 such as a knife edge or a small diameter roller, the radius of gyration at the carrying end of the carrying belt 151 is reduced. Therefore, the gap between the conveyor belt 151 and the delivery plate 198 can be made as small as possible, and the guide plates 200a, 200 of the guide mechanism 200 can be made smaller.
The space between b is narrowed, and guide plates 200
By being supported and guided by a and 200b, the above-mentioned shimai W can be smoothly delivered from the conveyor 15 to the delivery plate 198. Further, the guide cylinder 20
While the space between the guide plates 200a and 200b is opened by 0d, the pushing member 19 is opened by the compression cylinder 196.
4 and the pressing member 195 are opened, and the upper and lower cylinders 18
6, the support 189 is moved up and down, and the rotating machine 18
By moving the moving table 185 back to the original position by 1, the front and rear of the shiima W on the delivery plate 198,
The pressing member 195 and the pushing member 194 on the front side are positioned. At this time, the next shimai W on the delivery end of the conveyor 15 is located between the pushing member 194 and the pressing member 195 on the rear side, and the guide plates 200a and 200b are provided on both sides of the shiima W. By narrowing the space, it is supported and guided by the guide plates 200a and 200b.

Then, the pushing member 194 is moved forward by the compression cylinder 196 and the pressing member 195 is moved backward, so that the above-mentioned shii W is sandwiched between each pushing member 194 and the pressing member 195, and then the servo motor 181 and the movement are performed. The mechanism 182 allows the moving table 185 to be moved.
By advancing along the guide rail 184,
The shimma W sandwiched between the front-side pushing member 194 and the holding member 195 is pushed into the packaging bucket 170 on the tact conveyor 17 from above the delivery plate 198, and is sandwiched between the rear-side pushing member 194 and the holding member 195. The picked-up shii W is transferred from the transfer conveyor 15 onto the delivery plate 198. In this case, the guide plates 200a and 200b are arranged at the carry-out end of the conveyer 15 in a state in which the distance between them is narrowed, and guide plates 198a that are narrower in width toward both sides of the delivery plate 198 are provided. Since the guide plates 170b are formed on both sides of the packaging bucket 170, the shii W sandwiched between the pushing members 194 and the holding members 195 has the guide plates 200a, 200b,
It is smoothly guided and transferred along the guide plate portion 198a and the guide plate portion 170b. In addition, the conveyor 1
In transferring the shiimai W from the No. 5 to the packaging bucket 170 of the tact conveyor 17 via the delivery plate 198, the front and rear of the shiimai W are held by the pressing member 195 and the pushing member 194.
Since it is transferred in a compressed state by means of and, the aligned shiima W does not come apart, and a large number of shiima W packed in one bag can be smoothly transported while maintaining the overall shape.

Next, after the transfer plate 198 is rotated upward by the rotating cylinder 199, the tact conveyor 17 is moved forward by a predetermined distance. Further, after returning the delivery plate 198 to the horizontal position, the same procedure as described above is repeated to sequentially store the shii W in the packaging bucket 170 from the side of the transport conveyor 15. Then, in the vacuum packaging machine, the shii-mai W in the packaging bucket 170 is pushed into the bag by the pusher, packaged in a bag, vacuum packaged, and then heat sterilized. It was confirmed that in the vacuum pack of the shii-mai W manufactured in this way, the traces due to the rod-shaped member 130 formed on the shi-mai W disappear by heating. As a result, the Shiuma W can be smoothly supplied to the vacuum packaging machine without impairing the commercial value of the Shiuma W.

[0024]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention.
Is a food in which a predetermined number of foods such as shimai having a shape-restoring property by heating are put into a bag in a packaging bucket in a state of being aligned and sealed and heat treatment is performed, and the food is charged into the packaging bucket. A transfer mechanism for piercing and transferring aligned foods with a rod-shaped member, and a transfer mechanism for pressing the foods transferred by the transfer mechanism into a packaging bucket in a compressed state. , The transfer mechanism is located before and after the food
, A presser that clamps food from both sides in the front-back direction and compresses it.
Since it is equipped with a member and an extruding member, after the food in the aligned state is pierced and transferred by the rod-shaped member of the transfer mechanism, the transfer mechanism pushes the food in a compressed state into the packaging bucket while By the heat treatment performed in the process, the shape of the food returns to its original state, and the traces of the rod-shaped members do not remain, so that it is possible to smoothly and reliably supply a predetermined number of aligned foods onto the packaging bucket. In addition to labor saving and automation, foods in good condition can be easily manufactured without impairing commercial value. Further, according to claim 4 of the present invention, since the inspection mechanism for inspecting the inside of the food is provided between the transfer mechanism and the transfer mechanism, the inside of the food is inspected by the inspection mechanism. As a result, the soundness of the packed food can be surely confirmed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a transfer mechanism unit.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a transfer mechanism section.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing an upper portion of a transfer mechanism section.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an upper portion of a transfer mechanism unit.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a lower portion of the transfer mechanism section.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing 15 parts of a conveyor.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a transfer mechanism section.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a transfer mechanism section.

FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a guide mechanism unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

W Shimai 12 Transfer mechanism 16 Metal detector (inspection mechanism) 18 Transfer mechanism 130 bar 170 packaging buckets

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-57-105172 (JP, A) JP-A-50-102485 (JP, A) JP-A-2-93394 (JP, A) Jitsukaihei 4- 93037 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65B 5/00-5/12 B65B 35/00-35/58 A23L 1/48

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. When a predetermined number of foods, such as shimai, which have a shape-restoring property when heated, are placed in a bag and sealed by a packaging bucket and heat-treated, the packaging bucket is filled with the food. A transfer device for a food to be put in, in which an aligned food is pierced and transferred by a rod-shaped member, and a transfer mechanism for pressing the food transferred by the transfer mechanism into a packaging bucket in a compressed state. The transfer mechanism is located in front of and behind the food,
A pressing member that presses food from both sides and compresses it.
A food transfer device comprising a feeding member . 2. The transfer mechanism is arranged so that food is placed on both sides.
It is characterized by having a guide mechanism that sandwiches and supports it.
The food transfer device according to claim 1. 3. The transfer mechanism moves along a rod-shaped member.
Freely installed to hold food stuck to the bar
Characterized by having a detaching member for detaching
The food transfer device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. A food transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 inspecting mechanism for inspecting the interior of the food, characterized in that is provided between the transfer mechanism and the sorting mechanism. 5. A shape is restored by heating.
Pack a packaging bag with a predetermined number of food items such as shimai
Of packaged food that is put in a bag and sealed and heat-treated
A manufacturing method, wherein a food product in an aligned state is pierced by a rod-shaped member and transferred.
The loading process and the food transferred by the loading process are compressed.
A transfer process of pushing it into the packaging bucket in a contracted state,
Foods placed in a packaging bucket by the transfer process
The sealing step of putting the bag into a bag and sealing it, and the sealing step
It has a heat treatment process that heats the food sealed in the bag.
A method for producing a packaged food, comprising: 6. A food product is transferred between the transfer step and the transfer step.
Claim having an inspection step for inspecting the inside
Item 6. A method for producing a packaged food according to Item 5.